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(No Model.)

L. P. SANFORD.

BOOK BINDING.

No. 405,276. Patented June 18, 1889;

WITNESSES:

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAURA P. SANFORD, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

BOOK-BINDING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 405,276, dated June 18, 1889. Application filed January 31, 1887. Serial No. 225,966. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAURA P. SANFORD, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Book-Binding, of which the following specification, reference being had therein to the drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to a device for preserving the top, back, and edges of cloth and paper bound books, and for preventing such backs from being crushed or wrinkled either in packing or in course of usage.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention, in which-- Figure 1 is a band consisting of a series of my book-back strengtheners united together in a series for convenience of manufacture and handling. Fig. 2 represents one of my said book-back strengtheners applied at the top of the back part of a book. Fig. 3 represents a side sectional view of one mode of holding my improved strengtheners in position.

I prefer to make my book-back strengtheners in bands or series,-as shown in Fig. 1. In said figure A A isa series of such strengtheners united together at the small points a a. In the example shown they are formed with the lower edges in the shape of a point or scallop and the separate strengtheners are of different widths, so that when cut apart from each other they can be used in differentsized books. I make some of said strengtheners one-half inch wide, others one inch wide, and others one-and-one-half-inch wide. These widths will adapt them for most sizes of books, but of course the widths may be varied without departing from my invention. I prefer, also, to make such strengtheners thicker at the top edge and thinner at the lower edge, as shown in Fig. 1 at the part b. By this means they are lighter for a given strength, and are sometimes more readily fastened in the paper and cloth forming the back part of the cover. I do not, however, limit myself to a pointed or scalloped form of strengthener, as strengtheners with square'or otherwise shaped ends will satisfactorily accomplish my invention.

Fig. 2 represents one of the simplest ways in which my book-back strengtheners may be applied.

In cutting out the paper or cloth to form the cover of the book the part which forms the back is, as usual, cut so as to separate it for a short distance at the top and bottom from the parts which are to be turned over to form the sides. The strengtheners are then applied at the top and bottom of the back, and the piece of cloth or paper which has been separated to the width of the proposed back is folded over upon the strengthener and the strengthener held in position between they back and the piece which has been folded over in any suitable way.

One of the simplest modes of holding the said strengthening-pieces in position is to insert the point or end of the same in a slit out in the turnedover edge of the back, as shown at the point 0, Fig. 2. This will leave the strengthener held in position by being supported at the lower portion by having its point or end passed through the slit, and at its upper portion by being held between the foldedover paper or cloth. This mode of holding the strengtheners is illustrated in the sectional view, Fig. 3. I dov not, however, limit myself to this particular mode of holding the strengtheners in position, as they may be united to the cloth or paper by glue, cement, rivets, or in any other suitable Way, though I prefer the mode of holding the sameillustrated in Fig. 3, on account of its simplicity and economy, and because it dispenses with the necessity for the use of glue, which is obj ectionable.

I prefer to make my book-back strengtheners out of vulcanized rubber; but I do not limit myself to this particular material. Said strengtheners may be made of metal or of any tough strong material, such as papiermach, celluloid, stiffened cloth, or even from stiff card-board suitably prepared.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of one or more plates A with the back of the book-cover, said plates being held inclosed under the folded-over edge of said back, substantially as described.

2. The combination of one or more plates varying Widths,'united together at the points A with a book-back cover, the point of said a a a, substantially as described. plate being inserted through the slot in the New York City, January 28, 1887.

folded-over edge of said back, substantially LAURA P. SANFORD. 5 as described. \Vitnesses:

3. A series of plates A A, having thicker AROHIBALD 0. WEEKS,

upper edges and tapering lower edges and of T. NOTTINGHAM WILLIAMS. 

